Glen Eira leading the way with solar

We continued to rollout our solar program across Glen Eira communities in 2016–17 following the major installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (GESAC), Glen Eira Town Hall and Caulfield Senior Centre in 2015–16.

We are proud to be leading the way with our solar program with GESAC’s system among the largest solar power systems on any Local Government building in Australia, boasting an impressive 384 solar panels.

Combined, the solar systems at GESAC and Town Hall will generate 232,000-kilowatt hours (per year) of clean electricity, which equates to power used by approximately 50 average homes in Glen Eira.

Seven additional sites had solar panels installed in 2016–17, including Caulfield Park Pavilion in Caulfield; the Youth Information Centre in Bentleigh; both McKinnon and Glen Huntly Maternal and Child Health Centres; DC Bricker Pavilion in Caulfield South; Packer Park Pavilion in Carnegie; and Duncan Mackinnon Pavilion in Murrumbeena.

To date the total capacity of solar systems installed by Council is 382 Kilowatts across 18 buildings and as a result we are anticipating a significant increase in solar energy production and a subsequent decrease in greenhouse gases in 2016–17.

Figures available to us at the time of publication include:

— Greenhouse gas tonnes decrease of 8.8 per cent.
— Solar power generated by Council in 2016–17 was 136,256 Kilowatt hours — a 67 per cent increase.
— The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions equates to eliminating the annual electricity usage of almost 200 average Glen Eira homes.